Mid-season Report

By M.L. Morgan

(July 17, 1998) - Well, race fans, 17 races into the 1998 season and very little has changed since this same time last season. The rich keep on getting richer. Big surprise.

Jeff Gordon has found his way back to the top of the points standings. With 4 wins and 10 top-5 finishes in 17 races he belongs being where he is. A close 2nd place is held by Mark Martin, the perennial bridesmaid. He also has 4 wins and 13 top-10 finishes - a very credible record. Dale Jarrett is hanging on in 3rd place with 2 wins and 12 top-10 finishes, not too shabby, either.

Jeremy Mayfield, currently in 4th place, has already had a career season, winning his first Cup race and loitering in the top-5 all season. Nice turnaround for his team. His new-found teammate, Rusty Wallace is solidly entrenched in 5th place but that’s about all he’ll do this season.

The point which is so blatantly demonstrated is the multi-car teams are absolutely dominating again this season. 8 of the top-10 drivers are from multi-car teams. This shouldn’t be a surprise to even the newest Cup fan. Nascar’s so-called rules have the odds stacked terribly against the single-car teams. I think it’s a travesty. The truth is, these multi-car teams have a lot of clout because they are funded by the biggest sponsors in Winston Cup Racing, a point which Nascar does not overlook. Trust me.

A mild surprise this season has been the performance of Jimmy Spencer. He’s been fairly consistent and has seemed to avoid many of the bone-headed moves he’s so famous for. Let’s hope it lasts. He’s hilarious in person and I’d love to see him on-stage in November.

Another one who catches my eye is John Andretti. He’s currently 14th and has had a really good season. The #43 team seems to have made a lot of progress. I don’t think any race fan can pull against Richard Petty.

When the season started I thought Bobby Hamilton might have made an unwise move going to the #4 team. I was wrong. He’s done fine so far. Maybe he’s the kind of driver they needed.

Ol’ DW sold his team and went to driving the #1 car as a replacement for the injured Steve Park. Well hush my mouth ! He’s doing just fine, thank you. Nobody was more surprised than I was. I don’t mind being wrong. But I hope he and Dave Marcis open up a tackle shop after the season is over.

There have been a few disappointments as well. Kyle Petty seems to be mired in mediocrity. I don’t even see glimpses of the talent he once demonstrated. Earnhardt’s teammate, Mike Skinner, hasn’t done anything. I’m amazed he still has a ride. Ricky Rudd who was always the epitome of consistency, is wallowing in 25th place with but a single top-10 finish this season. He’s talked about adding a second car to his team but I think it’s a little too late for 1998. And we can’t ignore Earnhardt. He started off the season by winning a disputed Daytona 500 and hasn’t done much since. He shows up every week. Big damn deal. He might get a perfect attendance award but he won’t get his 8th Championship. I think he needs to get away from Richard Childress.

The 1998 rookie crop hasn’t done much. Kenny Irwin has had a respectable year. Jerry Nadeau is already history. The rest are forgettable. Matt Kenseth is supposed to be the next rising star but we’ll have to wait and see. Buckshot Jones is too scary for words.

Morgan Shepherd is really struggling. Todd Bodine is already back to driving the cars with training wheels. He’ll have more company.

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